DSC’s Daily Notebook (04/08/2023)

IMSA points standings in full focus at Road America

After the GT-only meeting at Lime Rock, all five classes are back in action at the four-mile Road America circuit this weekend. With the end of the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship edging closer, the championship standings are becoming more and more important.

In GTP, Action Express’ #31 Cadillac leads the standings by just 10 points over the #25 RLL BMW. Pipo Derani and Alex Sims have amassed 1872 points in the #31, while a victory and three podiums in the last five races means Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly have 1862.

Wayne Taylor Racing’s Filipe Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor are third with 1843 points, while the best-placed Penske Porsche pair are fourth, Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet sitting on 1809.

LMP2 is also tight at the top. Crowdstrike duo Ben Hanley and George Kurtz have scored 973 points, just three more than Mikkel Jensen and Steven Thomas in the TDS ORECA. PR1’s Ben Keating and Paul-Loup Chatin are also firmly in the title race, currently third with 967 points.

LMP3 meanwhile, is a different story. Riley’s Felipe Fraga and Gar Robinson are looking for a fourth consecutive win this weekend, to extend their huge 181-point lead over AWA’s Wayne Boyd and Anthony Mantella.

What once looked like a runaway in the GTD championship is anything but following a disappointing finish by Paul Miller Racing’s #1 BMW M4 GT3 at Lime Rock. Although they remain atop the standings, PMR’s Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow are now feeling the heat from their closest rivals, Roman De Angelis and Marco Sorensen in the Lime Rock-winning #27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3. The gap is 86 points.

The GTD Pro standings also got more interesting at Lime Rock, with the #23 Heart of Racing entry completing an Aston Martin “double” by besting the class-leading #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3. It means that all five full-season GTD PRO teams (and manufacturers) have now won this year. Ben Barnicoat and Jack Hawksworth lead the way, 151 points clear of Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor in Corvette Racing’s C8.R GTD.

The race is set to get under way at 10:10am local time on Sunday.

Konica Minolta extends IMSA partnership

Konica Minolta Business Solutions has extended its partnership with IMSA, continuing a relationship between the two organisations that dates back to 2015.

This extension ensures that the business hub of the paddock will remain known as the Konica Minolta Business Center.

The center includes two conference rooms in the 53-foot transporter and additional meeting space that provides Konica Minolta, IMSA, manufacturers, corporate partners, a multitude of race teams and other series stakeholders a place to conduct business at race events.

The prime location in the middle of the action assists Konica Minolta in supporting IMSA partners and stakeholders with their business-to-business opportunities. New for 2023, the Konica Minolta Business Center can now run fully “off the grid” thanks to rooftop solar panels and battery storage units installed prior to this season.

The system also provides Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) charging for IMSA OEM partners to use for at-track product launches, VIP rides, media events and more.

“Konica Minolta is one of the most visible corporate partners in our sport between its relationship with IMSA and its longtime association with the #10 WTRAndretti team,” said IMSA President John Doonan.

“IMSA’s commitment to showcasing sustainable technologies was a significant contributor to Konica Minolta’s decision to renew its partnership. Looking toward the future, IMSA and Konica Minolta will continue working together to bring more of our sustainability efforts to life.”

Albuquerque’s good fortune!

Filipe Albuquerque was a lucky boy this week, becoming possibly the first person ever to drop their phone while on a rollercoaster and get it back undamaged!

The most insane story you will hear today.
My phone flew off my pocket during a rollercoaster ride and this guy caught it in the air 5 row behind me. pic.twitter.com/LwZyvKCoW4

— Filipe Albuquerque (@Albuquick) August 2, 2023

WEC Unfiltered… Doriane Pin

WEC Unfiltered returned last night with footage from Prema driver Doriane Pin’s first race start in LMP2 at Portimao back in April. There, she became the first female driver to take the start in the FIA WEC’s LMP2 class from pole position.

Andy Blackmore Road America Spotter Guide

Get ready for the return of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Andy Blackmore’s hyper-detailed spotter guide for the Road America weekend.

You can download it HERE >>>

Images courtesy of Cadillac and IMSA